Abita Springs Opry

Summer is nearing its end and another Opry season is on the horizon. We have planned a great season that promises more of that good ‘ol Louisiana roots music.

FALL LINEUP
We are proud of the lineup that will appear on our stage this fall. See dates and line up below:

September 20

The Petty Bones. They are serving as our current house band. They always provide a great start for the show. Their energy, personality and great musicianship serve as a great introduction for the Opry. In order to keep their act fresh, they plan to have different artists featured as guests at the different shows. They are a very popular group of musicians, and have a broad networking of very capable musical friends who can help round up their performances and keep them fresh. We are looking forward to a great season with them leading the way.

Robbie Longley: This young guitar player will amaze you with his classical guitar playing. He is one of the most skillful players you will ever witness. His hands are literally a blur as they move over the strings. People who have an appreciation for superior musicianship will thoroughly enjoy this young man's offering.

Delta Reign: A visiting Bluegrass group who will be traveling from Mobile to treat us to a very unique brand of Bluegrass music. We are flattered that they are willing to travel all the way from Mobile to perform for us. This is a young group of bluegrass musicians who promise to combine youthful exuberance, skillful musicianship, and high energy bluegrass.

Chip Wilson: This New Orleans blues and folk singer specializes in traditional Louisiana roots music. He is a master of the slide guitar technique. He is well traveled and treats audiences all over with the kind of music we love. We are looking forward to this set.

Sherman Bernard and the Old Man River Band: This will be a first for the Opry. In keeping with the mission statement of "the preservation and presentation of Louisiana roots music, we have not, as of yet, had traditional New Orleans Rhythm and Blues. Sherman is one of the best piano players in town and has studied under some of the all-time greats. He will be supported by some superior musical talent and will treat us to some of the best Big Easy R&B you will ever hear.

October 18

The Petty Bones (House Band)

Kyiko McRae: This young lady is a New Orleans musician who is full of very traditional music. She has a very commanding presence and a powerful voice. She plays frequently in town and we were very impressed by her vocals when we heard her at a New Orleans Jam session. She promises to be a real treat as a newcomer to the Abita Opry stage.

The Drehgs. All of these folks are members of the Opry family. They regularly jam together and their musicianship has grown to a point that is more than more than worthy of being on our stage. The trio of women in the group, Jan Biggs, Patti Green, and Bonnie Higgins has developed wonderful three part harmonies that need to be exposed to a large audience. It is rewarding to witness our local musicians who have developed their talent to the point that they deserve to share what they have accomplished with the Opry audience. You will love this group.

The Tanglers: This young Bluegrass group hails from New Orleans. They have a wonderful style of playing that they refer to as "Big Easy Bluegrass." It is gratifying to see young musicians who recognize the value of keeping the traditions alive and we hope the Opry is a means of facilitating and encouraging those musicians. Our rich New Orleans musical heritage enriches traditional styles like Bluegrass, and we are looking forward to hearing that from this group

Bayou Liberty Jazz Band: If you like traditional New Orleans Jazz, you will love this group. They are frequent visitors to the Jazz Fest, and are steeped in the Dixieland Jazz tradition. Traditional Jazz has proven to be very popular with our audience and one of New Orleans' greatest contributions to the world. We are proud to have this great musical tradition offered on our stage. They are excited about their performance opportunity and we are equally excited about their coming to the Opry.

November 15

The Petty Bones (House Band)

Whistle Stop: This is a return Bluegrass group from South Mississippi. They are very skillful in their musical presentation and proved to be very entertaining to our audience. They specialize in the traditional hard-driving Bluegrass style and enjoy playing together. They have been anxious to have a return performance, and we are happy to have given them that opportunity

Jockey Etienne and the Creole Zydeco Farmers: Yes they are actually farmers. This group will be traveling to the Abita Springs Opry from the Lafayette area. They are a group of older Zydeco musicians who are steeped in that great musical tradition. Zydeco is a pure Louisiana musical genre, and needs to be heard and preserved. These guys promise to provide the strong rhythms and rich sounds that Zydeco lovers love to hear. We are proud that they are willing to travel all the way across the state to share their music with us.

The Zion Harmonizers: You can't sit down long when these guys crank up. This is one of the greatest gospel groups in existence. They initiated the gospel tent at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, and still perform there every year. For many years, they performed in the Gospel tent with Aaron Neville. They are no strangers to the Opry stage, and these great guys always put their heart and soul into their high-energy and uplifting performance. This performance is a don't miss.